Posted on 01/24/2018 5:32:53 AM PST by reaganaut1
The Teamsters union wants to prohibit United Parcel Service Inc. from using drones or driverless vehicles to deliver packages.
That was one of the labor union’s initial demands as it kicked off high-stakes contract talks with UPS this week. The Teamsters also want the parcel giant to eliminate late-night deliveries and add another 10,000 workers to the ranks, among other things.
The two sides are starting to negotiate one of the largest collective bargaining agreements in the U.S., which covers around 260,000 UPS employees and expires in July. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ National Negotiating Committee this week submitted to UPS an 83-page document updating the prior agreement.
Both sides declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal.
UPS spokesman Steve Gaut said the company is focused on negotiating a contract that provides the company the flexibility required “to remain a highly competitive provider of reliable service,” especially as smaller and new delivery companies encroach on its turf.
The talks are starting amid a changed landscape in the delivery world since the two sides last hammered out an agreement. Over the past five years, online sales have surged, adding extra business for parcel-delivery companies like UPS, FedEx Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service as they deliver billions of packages to homes.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
How about no teamsters?
Drones and driverless trucks don’t pay union dues. This is the ONLY thing the Teamster bosses care about. In thirty years as a Teamster I saw wages cut time and time again, benefits traded off for new hires. Individual members pay cut to bring on more dues paying bodies.
$15,000 in dues and I didn’t even get a tshirt from these bloodsuckers.
Fifty years ago, this might have worked. It doesn’t work with FedEx providing ample competition.
Excellent idea.
I’m wondering how UPS and FedEx stay competitive, since UPS is unionized and FedEx is not. FedEx is slightly cheaper most of the time, but only slightly. The post office isn’t even close.
These Useless Unions Bosses are like those trying to keep the Horse and Buggy relevant .
Useless Unions are putting a finger in the Dam .
Ups will be gone soon at this rate.
Be prepared for a looooong strike, then bankruptcy.
The longshoremen have been able to protect positions that are eliminated, teamsters will have a harder time.
Someday, kids will ask their dads “What are unions?”
Look at the FedEx trucks then look at the UPS trucks. UPS is something out of the 1930’s. They are headed into oblivion like the Railway Express Agency.
LOL. Either that or the driverless trucks need to go at 20 MPH and stop once every two hours for a 30 minute break.
Those people are stuck on stupid.
“Someday, kids will ask their dads ‘What are unions?’”
Nonsense! Now where’d I put my buggy whip?
/sarc
The Postal Service has Media Mail, an economical rate, approximately $2.61 for postage for a small bubble wrap envelope (2 for one dollar at the dollar store) to mail a DVD or small book within continental US, no letter or other communication inside. For larger media mail items, say a DVD collection an inch thick, you can buy cardboard case at the dollar store and tape to wrap the ends, mail for approximately $4.61 or 4.81, something like that.
They all going to be electric ...so they go at 20 MPH and stop once every two hours for a 30 minute break.
Do you need a steady flow of a critical drug? I do.
Do you think there’s a chance of a strike in this? I do.
Does your pharmacy get shipments via UPS? Mine does.
Might not hurt to lay up a bit of a backup on the shelf.
A ninety-day backup supply sounds about right.
Be sure to FIFO your stock...
Smith, the founder of FedEx is smart enough to keep his employees well paid {in most cases higher than UPS} without union goons hassling him.
The payroll is only part of the equation, giving stock options as bonuses keep the work force involved with the success of the company.
FedEx was one of my accounts in the early part of the 21st century and I saw first hand how engaged almost all of FedEx people were in the successful operation of the company. They really care about the FedEx customer, and that translates into real, long term, success.
Yeah, Media Mail is quite reasonable. And it even comes with tracking these days. But unless you are mailing Media or lie what you have inside, you would have to spend more at the post office. Their flat rate packages used to be reasonable, but the price keeps going up every time they have a rate increase.
Nice to know. I try to use FedEx whenever I can.
I fail to see how a driverless truck could take out a package, walk up to your door and ring the bell, and get your signature. Final delivery is one area where human intelligence is still needed.
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